Penn State to put $20M into its online academy

STATE COLLEGE -- Pennsylvania State University is funneling $20 million into its online learning academy and hopes to nearly quadruple enrollment.

The Centre Daily Times reported that the university wants enrollment in its World Campus to go from the current 12,000 to 45,000 within 10 years. Penn State President Rodney Erickson said the money was generated by World Campus tuition.

It offers programs including master's in business administration and bachelor's in psychology and is aimed at midcareer adults. World Campus Executive Director Wayne Smutz said the money will go toward technology, gathering analytical data and startup costs to hire new faculty.